What's on your 'to do list' before you give birth?

[RoomForALittleOne]

Humour me! The reality that we are actually having a baby has finally hit Up until now I've been extremely laid back about getting everything ready (it's DC4). This morning I realised that I still have quite a few things to get done before I am mentally ready to give birth and have started making a list. I think there's loads of things that I haven't even thought about though. So, what's on your list?

See as many movies, musicals, plays etc as I can.
eat meals with two hands and try to appreciate that.
have naps.
read
pre make meals that can be eaten with 1 hand to go in the freezer

I have 3 months before I give birth to my 2nd, and my other child will be in daycare, this is what i'll be doing with my days.

It's a good question, and one I try not to think about as time is slipping through my fingers!

For me, it's been to clear as much debt as possible so have been skinting myself for last 18months-2 years. After this month, I'll be £250 a month better off as a result. Am due at end of July so leaving it late but will at least have a little breathing space when on mat leave.

Me and DP trying to have some fun - hoping to squeeze in a trip to London for a musical weekend.

Get baby things sorted (lots of this)

Finish decorating back bedroom

Get over fear of being intimately prodded and poked and interfered with.

Set expectations for family visiting allowances.

Learn how to look after a baby...

So not much then!

Panic.

Move house.

Panic some more.

DC4 here too - very complacent about the whole thing but its finally dawning on me that I only have 15 weeks left to:

Pack
Move
Unpack
Whilst attending older DCs numerous end of school year functions and so on... Oh yeah, need to fit in mw and consultant appointments too.

Oh. And I have to give birth too don't I? Am a little scared about that this time for some reason. ..

I was in hospital last week due to a kidney infection before this was discovered the words preterm labour were mentioned by the midwife (am 29 weeks) and all I could think about was I can't have the baby yet as I still have to get through:
DS2 birthday (tomorrow now)
ExH birthday on the 14th June
father's day
DS1 birthday on the 13th July
Shopping trip on the 22nd June

so no way this baby can come too early as I am too busy, although have decided she can come a little early as due 2 days after my birthday so at least if she is a little early I can celebrate my birthday without a bump.

Sleep.

Sleep.

Sleep...?

Oh wait, I have an 18-month-old and an enormous bump.

Purchase a double buggy.

I have managed to do quite a lot of my list today. I had given up but I've just had to clean the microwave anyway because I managed to boil over some semolina. I was very close to crying over spilt milk!

Write birth plan.

(Didn't get around to it. Didn't matter.)

Oh, and Ezza, I am very scared about giving birth this time as well. I was trying to talk to DH about it earlier and he couldn't understand why I'm so anxious this time. I pointed out to him that I can remember it this time. I think there's something about giving birth 3 times already that means it is now engrained deeply in my memory.

I don't know if I can be bothered to write a birth plan. No-one ever reads it anyway and I can tell them what I want at the time.

I'm trying to keep my list short but it keeps growing! This is DC1, so I'm kind of making it up as I go along:

• buy some baby things (cot, pram, carseat, etc)
• sleep a lot
• do some yoga
• read some baby books
• try to stay calm
• try not to eat for 2

And get some bendy straws. My midwife seems keen on me having these for the birth??

I've always had bendy straws in my bag and that's where they have stayed. Somehow being in labour hasn't changed my ability to drink

Oh good. Thanks RFALO, one thing at least I can mark as optional on the list

shit i havent even started yet! due early september and finishing work end of july as im moving in with dp then and will be 140 miles round trip from work.
nothing at all bought for baby though we have been putting money away into 'baby kitty' to buy what we need in august. dont even know where to start tbh, we waiting til baby arrives to find out the sex so unisex baby clothes so far have been 'meh'.
started feeling quite anxious about the whole birth bit this last week or so too, shitting myself actually. have a booking in appt with midwife at the hospital near new house next week and plan on asking about water birth, thats about all i have done so far. jees am going to be shit at this mothering lark :(

I need to pack my hospital bag
Get the electrics sorted (we have a flickering poltergeist)
New bathroom installed or at least a functioning one in place
Get all the crap out of the attic (car seat, sling, babygros etc)
Lay turf in the garden & order a playhouse for DS1 so I can enjoy the summer lazing around feeding DS2 while he plays in my dreams
Batch cook
Spring clean the whole house
Go swimming!

I'm 36+4 with DC2